"While your tech support is unmatched, I think the huge selling point is the functionality of the program. Anybody who has read ICAO Doc 9859 will see that the major points are covered with the software. The second largest point, in my opinion, is the customization afforded by the program. ICAO and even the FAA are offering an academic model for certificate holders to follow. This means the theory can be applied to any company from the largest carriers to the smallest 135 operator. Therefore, being able to “tweak” an SMS to fit the company while still meeting requirements will be paramount as this pushes towards regulation in the near future. The fact that these “tweaks” can more or less be done in the software is a HUGE advantage."  Medium-sized Part 135 operator (United States)

"SMS-Pro is an awesome product"  
SMS-Pro is an awesome product. We began with the free version to see its value and if it integrated well into our culture. It allowed upper management to examine its value, get excited about its capabilities and ultimately, authorize me to upgrade to the next version level.

Chris and his staff are so quick on helping with any problems you may encounter.

I am just a very satisfied user of the software program, and I looked at quite a few.

Canada

"Informally, through verbal conversation, TC has credited our system as the most sophisticated system they have seen so far and are impressed.

They would like to see us expand this system to include the Hazard List Registry that prioritizes hazards listed on the register.

I think we had a module like that at one time but never really got into it.
 
TC will not endorse one system or another. However, it is safe to say they were very impressed with SMS Pro and how advanced we are with this system.
Good work!" Canadian operator with three Boeing passenger planes

We have been doing research in a few different products for document control/tracking as well as online training. The end result to the searching is that each aviation developer has jumped on the SMS bandwagon. "Look at our great training platform but, by the way, we will also do this online incident reporting for your SMS etc". Some basic, some complex but they are all thrown together quickly and poorly done. The end result detracts from what the original, good product and makes the whole thing look like a disorganized mess.

When you guys demo your product you should push that you are an SMS-first company that has poured countless hours into SMS research, training, developing and to beware of "SMS addons" to current products. "Your Safety System is not something you should have tacked on to another division of your company."

I've been through 5 audits now since we added SMS Pro... One Transport and the rest customer based, through independent aviation consultants. Each have been very impressed with the system.

I feel that I am not alone and explain it to the auditors this way: "I thought SMS was a joke and a pain in the ass, mostly because I did not understand it and it was being pushed on us.

First and foremost, it is a great reporting system, investigation system, classifying system and document system that is not only easy to use but will help you understand SMS in general. We now dig, dig, dig into reported issues and are quite surprised with the results. Our initial instincts, usually being irritated with a flight crew, have been wrong quite often. The investigation often results in new procedures. The reporter also has much closure as the system completes the loop.

We believe in full transparency, unless sensitive, and the employees (who had the same pain in the ass, don't under stand SMS opinion as I did) are starting to believe in SMS which is actually quite rare.

It forces us to close issues that previously would have been filed and forgotten, saving us money. The money saving side of safety is everyone's favourite line but one that is often ignored. Yes, no one can afford to have an accident, but when you have a system that forces you to EASILY dig into the Root Cause (and of course taking care of the annoying documentation of it); new systems, procedures and policies are developed actually saving money/preventing issues."

Each auditor has been thoroughly impressed but in seven months of running the system, the results are dramatic. A 703/135 company that does not have the overhead and support staff of an airline can have a working/thorough SMS that puts them to shame.The customer's auditors are happy, therefore the customers are happy. Important, since each government agency who contracts flying now considers a working SMS to be a decisive factor in the awarding of the contract. It really does make external audits a breeze!  Canadian charter & medical transport

"Informally, through verbal conversation, TC has credited our system as the most sophisticated system they have seen so far and are impressed.

They would like to see us expand this system to include the Hazard List Registry that prioritizes hazards listed on the register.

I think we had a module like that at one time but never really got into it.
 
TC will not endorse one system or another. However, it is safe to say they were very impressed with SMS Pro and how advanced we are with this system.
Good work!" Canadian operator with three Boeing passenger planes

I would highly recommend this software as extremely versatile and well suited to development of a comprehensive SMS system. Also, the support service for SMSPro is excellent. I would highly recommend this product. 

International

 I wanted to let you know that I am no longer with xxxx however, I really liked the SMS Pro. An idea that I am working on is to coordinate safety for smaller companies that can't afford full time safety staffs. Do you have affordable solutions for say, a small time operation of maybe 4 acft for instance?

I am a staunch advocate for your system so if I can be of assistance in your marketing effort, I'd definitely be interested. International helicopter operator

"Overall...SMS Pro has enabled a geographically dispersed charter company to effectively consolidate and manage a functional safety program. Now, our safety program is completely horizontally and laterally transparent throughout the organization and issues can be reported and tracked in near real-time."

One of the major benefits of SMS Pro is that it doesn’t force policy or conformance to a predetermined program, but rather provides the guidance and tools necessary to establish an SMS program that is appropriate for your organizations

Part 135

We are about halfway through our ACSF audit and I wanted to pass along to you that the auditors are nothing short of impressed with SMSPro. I spent about 4 hours going through the program and how is blends with our processes. The Director of Safety for NATA is coming in today, and the auditors have requested that I go through the site with him. In fact, thanks in no small part to SMSPro, the auditors have mentioned that "xxx" has one of the best safety programs they have audited.

...I have found SMS Pro to be intuitive and a great tool for both simple and complex aviation organizations - great job!

it is going to become the major management tool to oversight operational risk at the Airport

"GCAA was amazed..."

Your system is great and even the GCAA was amazed by the system

We will continue to use your system as we found a great Tool for SMS implementations

I am pleased to provide an assessment strongly recommending SMS Pro™, which in my assessment, is a leader among top SMS-related solutions.

I've been involved in airline safety program management for 10 years, 8 years of that as Director of Flight Safety for a major US Part 121 carrier, and for 20 years prior, military aviation safety in Naval Aviation, with half of that being deployed on aircraft carriers.

I've been a staff instructor at the University of Southern California's USC Aviation Safety and Security program for about 7 years now, where I teach SMS, Incident Investigation and Analysis, and Safety for Aviation Maintenance. I am involved in curricula development at USC, in airline pilot training, and as a Check Airman and instructor pilot at a Part 121 major US airline.

In my opinion, SMS Pro™ leads a very small field of employee reporting solutions, and an even smaller field of SMS program management solutions. The software is a very highly customizable application, one easily scalable to fit organizational requirements, and one that fits the organization, versus requiring the organization to fit the software.

SMS Pro™ manages the entire ICAO SMS, and is not simply an employee reporting tool. Because it is designed to manage the entire SMS, it is an "employee efficient solution." Implementation can be achieved with minimum personnel. The Return on Investment in not having to hire more people, is significant. The reduction in time to manage safety reports, and the organizational efficiency in processing reports in compliance with SMS regulatory requirements, is measurable and significant.

SMS Pro™ functions very well. NWDS provides good customer support, and their fees for certain program modifications and tailoring, when required, are very reasonable. Problems are handled in a very responsive manner.

Additionally, at NWDS, there is a lot of talent available to help a customer with just about any special research project needed.

I've been running a research program with SMS Pro, and the Air Line Pilots Association at a major US airline, for pilot safety reporting, and during implementation of what we think is the first SMS for a labor group - an appropriate pursuit for a labor group so committed to aviation safety, as ALPA.

We have about 1500 pilots in the organization, and in the first two months have recorded about 75 safety reports. Pilots like how easy it is to file a report. It takes just a few minutes to complete the process, and you know how much pilots don't like filing reports! That they are filing them at all, and that they like SMS Pro™, is a good indication of how well the system fits the organization.

One of the many features I like is the Key Performance Indicators, or KPIs, which are totally established by the customer. I like that you can set KPIs according to the organization's historical data. For example, when an event report is filed that exceeds your pre-set Quality Metrics, perhaps exceeding a threshold level of events that are otherwise within a range of acceptability in the organizational risk profile, then key personnel are automatically notified via email of the excellence. This is a really useful feature that saves time from someone having to manually monitor reporting.

..."there are a lot more of these nice features in SMS Pro™ that make it a superb tool for managing an SMS.

Thank you again for the incredible support

What Users Say about SMS Pro

SMS Pro is a Web-based aviation safety management system toolset suitable for airlines, helicopter operators, airports and maintenance repair operations (MROs).

"... really reduces our work load as it becomes effective" 

Why did you choose SMS Pro over other products?
Management says: "Service, training, user friendly, robust"

"Execeeded all expectations."  Flair Airlines, Canadian Charter Airline (contact Judi Bethune, Safety Systems Manager, as a reference).

“Breakneck Speed” service

Thanks very much for that “Breakneck Speed” service. When I first saw your reply in my mailbox I thought it had to be an “out of office” notice message from you <grin>.